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Presidential scorecard

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Aug 13, 2014

For about a term and a half we’ve heard loud and clear the continuous assertions from President Obama and his administration telling us over and over that he inherited the immigration mess, the Iraq mess, the National Debt mess, the whole etc., etc., etc., mess.

We have heard this to the point it would surprise no one if our current president claimed that he inherited this vacation mess from the previous president.

I’m pretty sure Candidate Obama read the fine print on the presidential job description stating when he took his oath on Jan. 20, 2009, he was responsible for maintaining or transforming the past practices, procedures and policies he would inherit from the previous president and his administration.

If he didn’t, then it makes you wonder what the whole Hope and Change theme during then-Sen. Obama’s first campaign for the White House was about.

Hope for changing the mystery meat served at lunch and have Top 40 music played during study hall?

Oops! Wrong Obama campaign. That was probably for his campaign as student council president in high school.

Did Candidate Obama believe, when he was running for president of the U.S.A., the mess he was going to clean up in the White House would be the issues of Vacation Guide magazines President Bush left under the bed?

Or did Candidate Obama believe, when he was running for president of the U.S.A., that the mess he was going to clean up in the White House would be the issues that President Bush left on the table?

Contrary to popular belief, past U.S. presidents did not inherit wooden teeth, theater tickets, a big stick, two chickens in every pot and Tippecanoe and Tyler too from their predecessors. Most of them inherited and handled down the matters that mattered back then.

Because of campaign promises getting lost in the shuffle of what is and what is not, perhaps now is the time for Congress to pass a measure commissioning the Congressional Research Service to keep track of presidential campaign promises and how those commitments actually changed inherited policy, as promised, that was in place when the promising president first took office.

The CRS could create a website showcasing a box score displaying how presidential candidates promises rank in being kept. That could change the meaning of rank promises by presidential candidates.

The averages would indicate how hard a president is working on his promise to change what they believed needed changing.

A scorecard of this nature complied by the CRS on the World Wide Web would not only give incentive for a president to keep their promises, it would also encourage voters that future presidential candidates when elected into the White House can indeed change what they inherit.

The funny thing is, unless you’re the next president, in 2016 we will vote into the Oval Office someone who promised to fix what they inherited from President Obama that he inherited.

Fortunately for past U.S. presidents the “You break it — you buy it” policy doesn’t apply to them or they would be spending their entire post presidency charging gargantuan speaking fees to pay back the taxpayers instead of using those fees to pay themselves.

Unfortunately for U.S. presidents that inherit the office they campaign to bring hope and change to is the price they pay. Right now, President Obama is just a tad behind on his inherited Bush payback payment promises.

Pick a card, any card. The Immigration card, the Iraq card, the National Debt card, the etc., etc., etc., cards and the overdue payments have added up so much so that the children of legal U.S. citizens’ children will inherit — and pay the inheritance tax.

As the saying goes, you can’t tell the players without a scorecard. But if the CRS issued a presidential promise scorecard, the player would not be able to tell us the score because ...

We would already know it.

Chuck Hoefert is a Sandusky-based humor columnist. He can be reached at hoefert@hughes.net.

Comments

The Big Dog's back

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 6:37pm

Just because he points out where the problems originated doesn't mean he isn't trying to fix them. You right wingnuts had 8 years to solve these problems and you still, still turned them over to Obama. Please tell why the right wingnut mind thinks problems were caused over many years can be fixed right now.

Blackberry Phale

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 6:45pm

Obama's 'Blame Bush' strategy still working? How long you lefties gonna beat on that dead horse?

It must really be frustrating to all of Obama's lapdogs to know that he is too incompetent to do his job.

deertracker

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 6:56pm

It's not about blaming Bush. Dog simply points out facts. When is your party going to take responsibility for the failures it created? If you think this guy is a failure what did you think of the last guy? People like you lack credibility because you are in complete denial of history.

holysee

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 7:20pm

And the pedaling of the collective backwards traveling bike did real damage that Obama had to try to fix includng 2 unjust wars and their maintenance fees.
And the damage Daddy bush and ron raygun did as well with that backwards pedaling budget.
Buncha teabaggin' repug crap.

Blackberry Phale

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 7:28pm

Barry didnt start any wars?

Among other things since becoming president, Barry has:

Dropped bombs in 6 Muslim countries.
Started a new war in Iraq.
Pushed for war on Syria while siding with al-Qaeda.
Supported Israel's wars and occupation of Palestine.
Deployed Special Ops to 134 countries - compared to 60 under Bush.
Sold $30 billion of weapons to the dictatorship in Saudi Arabia.
Signed an agreement for 7 military bases in Colombia.
Opened a military base in Chile.
Launched 20,000 Airstrikes in his first term.
And lastly,

Waged war on Libya without congressional approval.

You cant spin them facts ya'll boot lickers can ya?

Blackberry Phale

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 7:22pm

What failures? The last guy was no failure. The guy before him was a failure and a sexual predator. He even got impeached. People like you lack credibility because you are in complete denial of Barry's failures..

The Big Dog's back

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 9:13pm

Isn't this great. The right wingnuts wouldn't even mention bush's name for 6 years, now they're embracing him. Bwahahahahaahahaah!

jazzb0

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 11:29pm

The last guy ( Bush) was no failure huh ?

Your mental faculties have failed you.

knowitall

Mon, 08/18/2014 - 6:25am

We found WMDs yet?

ladydye_5

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 6:54pm

And Obama has been beating the "Blame Bush" horse for 6 years. How many years does he need/want? He only has 2 more to go.

Blackberry Phale

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 7:38pm

Whatever Barry says is unquestioningly swallowed by his supporters.

anthras

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 8:38am

Big Dog says "You right wingnuts had 8 years to solve these problems and you still, still turned them over to Obama"

If you feel that the Republicans had 8 years of problems then that would mean that the problems were carried over from the Clinton years.

The Big Dog's back

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 10:33am

No, those are your words, blaming everything on Clinton.

anthras

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 8:39pm

Re:"No, those are your words, blaming everything on Clinton."

Yes you are correct because if it was my post then it would seem that my words were expressed in the post. However I did say it because by your original post you said the same things.

Think about it if you stated that Bush spent 8 years and still did not correct the problems and he was in office for 8 years then it would only stand to reason that the problems had to be there when he came in.

Blackberry Phale

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 7:41pm

Barry spent years touting the withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq. Barry now blames his predecessor, George W. Bush, for the absence of American troops in Iraq. What?

The Blame Game is just about the only d-amn thing Barry is good at.

red white and blue

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 7:44pm

Im going to start referring to obama as the wizard of oz! No HEART! NO BRAIN'S! AND DEFIANTLY NO COURAGE! !!!!

Blackberry Phale

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 7:45pm

Obama 2012: "I ended the War in Iraq"
Obama 2014: "Bush did it"

Blackberry Phale

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 7:46pm

It's never Obama's fault.
Don't believe me? Just ask him...

sugar

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 7:50pm

Some of us knew the minute this shyster opened his mouth what he was.
Americans so morally, spiritually, emotionally bankrupt they vote into the WH a slick talking empty suit.

Tyrion

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 8:35pm

Which one? Name the last president that WASN'T a slick talking empty suit.

CommonsenseNow

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 1:26pm

@Tyrion - and that is THE point. Someone who is able to see past the stereotypes. Good for you.

Blackberry Phale

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 7:57pm

#just blame Bush

just observing

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 8:59pm

No wonder Hillary has jumped on her broom and is fleeing from Obama and his policies.

holysee

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 9:15pm

Confidential Memo: Former Koch Group Insider Fears the Tea Party Is Fading

jazzb0

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 9:06am

That's good news.

holysee

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 9:19pm

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people across the country who are ticketed for minor offenses are sentenced to probation managed by private companies, according to Human Rights Watch. In Alabama, it’s become a vicious cycle of fines, mounting fees and even jail time.

coasterfan

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 12:28am

Dear Fellow Dems: the Republican Party is an irrelevant shrinking party. As they have lost membership, they have moved further to the Right, and further away from what the majority of Americans believe. Those on the extreme fringe are the most outspoken, and the least well-informed. The non-partisan think tank PunditFact recently did a study that showed that only 18% of statements on Fox News were rated either True or Mostly True, yet these folks accept Fox as Gospel.

It's a waste of time trying to point out history to them, for the recent events we all lived through were covered entirely differently (or not at all by Fox News). Other "news items" (fake scandals) were entirely invented by the rightwing media, and continue to live on, despite being completely debunked. They truly live in an alternate reality. Fascinating, isn't it?

If we Dems show up and vote, they will lose. And they know it. That's why they are using all manner of skullduggery in more than a dozen states to suppress the vote in areas that vote predominantly Democrat. If you can't win fair and square, lie and cheat.

As if we could forget what happened during 2000-2008, and ignore the obvious fact that their policies in 2014 are the same ones that caused the problems we experienced during the Bush years. I've had my fill of the flaming bag of poo they are trying to sell. How about you?

Donegan

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 12:28am

Your post starts off begging for morons to continue to vote for your party and slides into the typical hit job on republicans and fox for a bit then in the last paragraph setting up excuses why your party will lose.
Don't you know by now to get the morons and dim witted ramped up you must have a vague chant of some sort. Like "Change" But that's already been done and the only change is the rich got richer so you cant use that. "We can do it" turned into "Lets blame someone for our failure" so that's out. I know you can chant "Our millionaires are better than their millionaires and we will not target you if you join our party!"
Hopefully your Mental heathcare service kicks in and you get the help you need. Being that delusional is bad for you.

coasterfan

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 12:40am

Donegan: my post wasn't for you. You can go back to your imaginary Republican World now. Man, you guys get even more angry when we Dems hit the nail on the head, huh...

As for morons, a higher % of Dems have college degrees, and if recent posts here are any indication, a MUCH higher % of conservatives have very poor grammar skills, have poor vocabularies and poor spelling skills. This, of course, makes sense, since the GOP votes against Education whenever it has the opportunity. If you're of below average mentality, you'll definitely feel at home under the GOP tent. Rush is counting on you to keep up his ratings.

Donegan

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 1:12am

Funny as heck watching you toot your own horn about being educated. If you actually think a section of this society that votes for a guy solely based upon the color of his skin with next to nothing of a past record, who is supported by wall street is out for your best interest you have a different standard of education than the rest of the known world.
Common sense tells anyone with a brain that a guy that lies to your face over and over again, dodges responsibility for constant failures but wants credit for other peoples achievements, Is not a very good leader. But then again no one has ever confused you Obama worshipers with anyone that had common sense or a brain for that matter.
FYI, I do not like Repubs all that much either because to me they are very similar to libtards. Always wanting power at the expense of our freedoms. So you can save your Rush,Fox,GOP,Aliens,Koch,whatever else you can possibly think of to blame your failures on.
I am glad you people are good at one thing, Failing. Never seen a more pathetic bunch of failures in my life. Most failures learn from their mistakes. You morons plod forward thinking you're right no matter how obvious your failures are. For that i applaud you.

There you go again

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 5:26am

You having a bad day, or what?

The Big Dog's back

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 7:00am

Common sense, and real history, tells me most American wanted Obama President. Twice.

8ballinthesidepocket

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 6:23pm

To the contrary, Forrest Gump was right, you cannot fix stupid!! Another question, is it racist when one race votes 90% for a candidate of like race? Just sayin.

The Big Dog's back

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 7:01am

As for failures, yep, every time you right wingnuts look in the mirror, you see nothing but failures.

meowmix

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 8:19am

It is also a fact that Bush was only elected president in 2000 because of Kathleen Harris and her corruption in Florida--
I don't recall Bushie EVER complaining about what he inherited from Clinton... Oh that's right a 5.6 TRILLION dollar SURPLUS! On 9/11, Bush hid. It took him 2 days to gather himself to go on national TV.

Loved your post costerfan--and you are absolutely right. 2016 is looking to be a shoe-in for Dem's.

Fromthe419

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 11:50am

@meowmix: Oh that's right a 5.6 TRILLION dollar SURPLUS!

You mean a 5.6T debt, we have not had a surplus in our budget in the last 50 years, please send me a link to verify this fact. Clinton's balanced budget was on discretionary spending, it did not include the military and social security. Although, I do commend him on reigning in discretionary spending.

sugar

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 6:36pm

They don't understand the difference between , deficit, debt, unfunded liabilities, discretionary spending none of it, they are simpletons.

sugar

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 7:26am

Great post Donegan.

anthras

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 8:34am

Mr Coasterfan says "As for morons, a higher % of Dems have college degrees, and if recent posts here are any indication, a MUCH higher % of conservatives have very poor grammar skills, have poor vocabularies and poor spelling skills"

I did read an article in one of my issues of the "Mensa Research Journal" that concluded that persons with higher IQ's tended to vote conservative.

I did advise IQ's and you alluded to education and that is not saying much as when I went to school this country was at the top in education and the last I seen we are now around 24th. thanks to our liberal education system.

You also alluded to the GOP voting anti education and I have never seen a study proving that more money equaled a better education. I really feel that the government could eliminate the federal department of education for a large savings as prior to Jimmy Carter our education system was doing better than today. It seems that the liberal solution is to throw money at anything that votes.

knowitall

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 8:50am

Heys. I bez a rubuicon. So don't y'all talks sum bad suffs to mee. I gots me a edicasion.

KnuckleDragger

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 10:43am

We dems, meaning the who 23% of the population that identifies as Dems. LOL

The Big Dog's back

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 11:06am

So, 32% of Repubs voted for Obama in 2012? Interesting.

CommonsenseNow

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 2:05pm

@Donegan - you cannot reason with people blinded by stereotypes. It's like beating your head against a brick wall; why bother? People who are comfortable throwing around dangerous stereotypes such as "fringe" and "extremist" to describe a group of fellow Americans with whom they disagree are delusional. You can't argue with delusion; it's like trying to grab hold of vapor. While I disagree with Occupy Wallstreet, darnit, those people have a right to state their views; who am I to silence the mouth of someone else? Serious, big boy words like "fringe" and "extremist" should be saved for their proper use ... like in describing a suicide bomber who would take out innocent babies for their cause or for the men in Iraq who are cutting off children's heads. These words do not fit in describing a group of Americans who are just speaking their mind. My oh my.

The Big Dog's back

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 3:18pm

The good thing is people are getting tired of the right wing extremists. They're figuring out that no good can come from them. People on the left are willing to compromise but right wingnuts somehow see that as a sign of weakness. The sooner the Repubs throw them out the better.

knowitall

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 5:07pm

Me too Big Dog.

Donegan

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 8:53pm

You do like to use that word extremist a lot for someone who wants the president to kill citizens without due process. You people on the left are delusional and are completely unable to compromise with yourselves let alone anyone else. Hell even think bad thoughts against your god will get one labeled a racist.
I look at progressive liberals like i do the Nazi's, Either march lock step or they will label and punish you.

The Big Dog's back

Fri, 08/15/2014 - 11:47am

What "due process" did Mike Brown get?

Donegan

Sat, 08/16/2014 - 1:36am

The same due process as your god gave that 16 year old Colorado kid. I am against what they did to M Brown as much as I am against your god murdering citizens. Your Move Hypocrite. Tell me how you excuse one and not the other.

sugar

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 6:37pm

They're just parrots, always repeating the moments talking point.

Contango

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 5:27am

Re: "flaming bag of poo,"

Other than tax, borrow, print and spend, spend, spend what other "flaming bag" of caca do the progressive-socialist Dems have?

Of course you are against anything to do with children, especially girls. pooh, are your feet getting warm? Hell is waiting for you.

downthemiddle

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 9:00am

Doggie...

Speaking of feet, how do uaw 913 preston's taste...?

LabMan

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 10:44am

L.S. ?

KnuckleDragger

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 10:46am

The feet are not what Dog is licking. Think peanut butter, LOL.

The Big Dog's back

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 3:25pm

Is that what your wife uses?

anthras

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 8:46pm

Mr. Big Dog says"Of course you are against anything to do with children, especially girls. pooh, are your feet getting warm? Hell is waiting for you."

Big Dog do you think that maybe hell might be waiting also for people that abort their unborn children ?

The Big Dog's back

Fri, 08/15/2014 - 11:47am

No.

sugar

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 7:28am

It is amazing, is it not? They still support the liar.

holysee

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 8:31am

8 more years please
just to make the teapuglicans squirm

jazzb0

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 9:19am

Hillary

2016 - 2024

AJ Oliver

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 12:21pm

I completely lost respect for Mr. Hoefert when he went after the president's children. I guess he thought it was "funny".

deertracker

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 12:41pm

That's the sign of a true hater. How can one complain about Newell and not this guy?

downthemiddle

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 1:45pm

We learned it from you guys during the Bush years....

deertracker

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 2:03pm

Well, that makes you a very poor student. Stay on point!

Huron_1969

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 2:48pm

Hope and Change.... Obama said he would change the way politics works in DC. He was going to reach across the isle and make both parties work together for the better good. He said he would promote compromise to get things done. Transparency was going to be his enforcer. This was a big part of his campaign promises

Now we are more divided than ever before

The Big Dog's back

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 3:24pm

Yep, Obama was wrong. You can't negotiate with right wing extremists. And as far as compromise goes, when he 1st became President, he and boehner would come to an agreement on something and boehner would take it back to the Repubs only to have them deny it. Every time Obama stuck the olive branch out, the right wingnuts took a chainsaw to it.

Huron_1969

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 4:37pm

Dream up all the excuses you want, bottom line he knew what he was getting into and promised change. End results are a "F"

The Big Dog's back

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 8:12pm

He is doing change, by Presidential orders. Now, read it and weep.

Donegan

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 9:24pm

That's not change, That's illegal. I swear you people cheer on rich guys undermining your voice in government like its a good thing. A perfect example of brainless morons cheering for those who step on their necks.
Freaking libtards will be the death of this country.

knowitall

Mon, 08/18/2014 - 6:27am

No it isn't! Cheney, I mean Bush, used more executive orders than Obama.

downthemiddle

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 9:39pm

Weep we should... And that includes you dog... Trampling the constitution is illegal.

Smart liberals know this....

Huron_1969

Fri, 08/15/2014 - 3:33am

Change by presidential orders... you're kidding right? He made promises and hasn't kept them

knowitall

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 5:08pm

I hope he changes!

AJ Oliver

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 3:40pm

And by the way, if Mr. Hoefert had done any real research, we would have found that Republicans are quite willing to censor the Congressional Research Service if its studies challenge right wing ideology.
The modern GOP cares no more for independent accounting than it does for science. This is not the party of your grandad's honest cloth coat conservatives.
As the Senate Dems pointed out in 2012 . .
"The analysis, conducted by the Congressional Research Service, compared tax policy with GDP patterns over the last 65 years. The report’s findings undermine a central tenet of Republican party orthodoxy on taxes.
The report was first released in September but was removed from public circulation shortly thereafter, apparently after pressure was applied by Senate Republican leaders."

The only substantial thing this president will go away with is the I blamed Bush for everything badge.

The Big Dog's back

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 4:22pm

You really don't think things are better than they were in 2008?

Donegan

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 8:53pm

So if you think things are better shouldn't Bush get the credit for it?

Contango

Fri, 08/15/2014 - 7:04am

Re: "things are better than they were in 2008?"

Only the ignorant believe that nonsense.

It's just been 'papered over' by the Fed.

The next financial crisis will be WORSE.

8ballinthesidepocket

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 6:33pm

Is there a grade below ZERO?? Let's see, had one of the poorest records of attendance in the Senate. In fact, authored zero legislation. Has not secured the border so who knows who has come into our country? Has constantly violated his Constitutional authority. Has spent more time and money on family vacations than the last four presidents combined! Am I the only person that is tired of hearing "the previous administration", when do the problems and issues become "the One's" responsibility? Probably the least qualified president since Warren Harding only more corrupt!! He makes Hillary look good and that is saying something!! I regret voting for him the first time, but I didn't pony up to this phoney the second time so don't blame me!!!

ohioengineer

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 9:02pm

I find it interesting that not one person has commented on the subject of this article: a presidential scorecard. (I guess it is more fun to call each other names.) I for one find the idea of a scorecard intriguing, if probably not practical since neither party would want their candidate so exposed to the harsh truth of reality.

It is ironic that the candidate who makes the most outlandish promises usually gets elected; yet once in office the deck is stacked against making good on even a few of those promises - even if he truly wants to do so. You would think the voters would figure this out after awhile.

Rather the best presidential candidate would be the one who made only one simple promise: "I will uphold the constitution." The constitution says it all and if were ever properly applied throughout the land we would all be living in paradise. Instead presidents of both parties waste their time in the futile effort of trying to please every special interest and minority group. The result is what you see today: absolute failure.